International
'Abnormal' cries from a premature baby could be an early sign of a developmental or behavioural disorder, according to international research. Babies born prematurely are at risk of these disorders but it can be hard to diagnose them early on, so researchers used a computer system that combined various sound characteristics of infant cries to identify 'abnormal' cries in a group of a few hundred premature babies. Following up over two years, the researchers said there was an association with these abnormal cries and behaviour later on that indicated a developmental or behavioural problem. They say this process could one day help quickly identify babies that need additional support.
From:
Examining Acoustic Cry Characteristics in Preterm Infants and Developmental, Behavioral Outcomes at Age 2
About The Study: The findings of this study of 363 preterm infants point to the potential use of acoustic cry characteristics in the early identification of risk for long-term developmental and behavioral deficits.
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